Screw History -- And The Patriots, Too

History, backed by reason and analysis, strongly suggests that New England’s visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday should be approached with, at best, cautious optimism.

Well, screw history. To hell with reason and analysis, too, while we’re at it.

A first-place showdown between two unbeaten teams (yes, yes, after one week – but remember, we’re dispensing with reason here) embodies the whole purpose of being a fan. The anticipation of taking apart a hated, and quite possibly evil, rival on your home turf is at least as great as the satisfaction of actually doing it.

While media new and old has been filled this week with both alleged experts and craven fans cautioning about getting “too excited” over Buffalo’s thoroughly dominant season-opening performance against Indianapolis, the editorial board of We Want Marangi firmly believes that it is not possible to be excessively enthused about this contest.

The Bills themselves seem to be in the proper spirit, from Rex Ryan’s press-conference tweaking to Marcell Dareus saying what almost everyone in the region thinks: “Don’t nobody like the Patriots.” (In the interest of full disclosure, all the Deflategate hubbub, best summarized by Cartman’s dream sequence during this week’s South Park, somehow makes me like them a little more. But that’s something probably best discussed with a professional.)

Retail outlets from gas stations to the official team store reinforced Dareus' thesis with air pump promotions.

Yes, the Patriots, when quarterbacked by Tom Brady, as we’ve been reminded repeatedly over the past week, have beaten Buffalo 23 of the last 25 games in which the National Football League’s most successful – and reviled – team of the century has actually been trying. That’s not counting the embarrassing-in-retrospect losses to the Matt Cassell-led Patriots in 2008, or the exhibition game masquerading as last year’s finale.

And, sure, Bill Belichick’s defensive scheming has gotten the better of quarterbacks from Jim Kelly to Russell Wilson, making a complete stifling of a novice like Tyrod Taylor seem like the most likely outcome.

And it’s true that few teams raise expectations more quickly, only to shatter them even faster, than the Bills.

But so what?

The Buffalo teams that compiled such a wretched recent history against Belichick, Brady and whoever else fills out the New England roster share little beyond uniform colors with the current edition. There is a different coach, different quarterback, different running backs, different receivers, different offensive linemen and different approaches on both sides of the ball, with Rex Ryan’s attack-oriented defensive approach seemingly perfectly suited to one of the NFL’s most talented units.

Of course, all of that could add up to a painfully similar outcome on Sunday, but why worry about that now?

Instead, WWM strongly endorses the following approach, whether you’re watching the game with 73,000 like-minded individuals in Orchard Park, in the privacy of your own home or somewhere in between:

--- Dig out your most superstition-laden apparel, be it a jersey, hat, 1993-vintage Zubaz, Bills-colored thong, or all of the above, and put it/them on. Now. Sleep in the outfit. On Sunday morning, wear it to mow the lawn, to church if you’re so inclined, or to your tailgate party of choice.

--- Watch this YouTube clip of the 2003 season opener, which closely resembles a Bills fan’s ideal outcome for Sunday. You should probably try to forget the ugliest uniforms in franchise history, though, as well as the Limp-Bizkity soundtrack. Also try to forget that this was supposedly the game that ended the Patriots’ dominance of the Bills. Twelve years ago.

--- Make proper arrangements for a game-time batch of wings. Don’t fight the cliché – live it.

--- Yell at Brady and Belichick. Constantly, if you’re at Ralph Wilson Stadium, or any time they appear onscreen anywhere else. Edit yourself according to your surroundings. Or not. Your choice. If you need extra motivation to find the right words for Tom, remember this:

--- Don’t give up. If there’s anything better than stomping a deeply loathed opponent, it’s coming back to do so.

--- Enjoy the moment. The Bills haven’t provided many like this in the last 15 years, so bask in it while it lasts.

(Note: The We Want Marangi marketing department strongly suggests, and politely requests, that you follow @DavidStaba on the Twitter.)